Comments on: Criticism of Choi continues

By: Jake

Jake — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 02:51:23 +0000

Choi just give me bad vibes all around. To me, he just seems like he’s more about the limelight and adoring fans than he is about the issues.

Go ahead, attack me.

By: Ben in Atlanta

Ben in Atlanta — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 01:32:22 +0000

An emotional appeal to “Love” is similar to the “Think of the Children” appeal made by some others you like to talk about. The woman’s love for Dan was obviously conditional. It turned into something else when she didn’t get what she wanted. This coming Sunday is World Forgiveness Day. Perhaps it should be 24/7/365.

By: truthteller

truthteller — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 00:45:55 +0000

This is hearsay and innuendo and BTB should know better.

So a woman at a university feels entitled to have a speaker, that inspired her, come to speak to her group, for free, and because he won’t (according to her) that somehow taints his accomplishments and makes him a persona non grata?

Dan Choi is not Mother Theresa, he does not claim to be Mother Theresa and we shouldn’t expect him to be Mother Theresa. He has every right and obligation to take care of himself. That includes having the finances necessary to live a comfortable life and pursue his activism, on behalf of the GLTB community. He was fired for being gay, remember?

Did BTB contact Choi for his side of the story, or is tearing down those who are working their ass off to help us attain equality the norm here?

By: Rossi

Rossi — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 22:51:32 +0000

I’m not going to jump to any conclusions as best possible here but I don’t think this is some kind of attack on Choi as much as just trying to figure out who our spokespeople are really working for.

I think I’ve said here before that TOO MANY organizations like HRC, EQCA, and others are really terrible at returning value for donor money, and that mostly has to do with the very fat salaries the people at the top take in. It’s why I nearly hung up on the HRC the last time they called (about a week ago), and have in the past donated more than a few grand over the years. No more. The poster above is right about giving Joe Solomnese the same treatment as Choi.

But I’m not sure it’s just a matter of perception: The image of Choi demanding he be flown first class to a school? Not so great. Perhaps this is the work of a booking agent, but to me I don’t think Dan is at the status where I’m comfortable seeing him flown first class at the expense of people who can ill afford it. MSNBC? You betcha, charge em for a private jet.

Lubbock? Not so much.

This goes beyond “being paid for his work” if in fact it’s his own choice. If it’s his booking agent, then Dan needs to keep a tab on perceptions out there.

Such perceptions (at least for me) didn’t work out so well for HRC: I don’t donate any more after seeing their pretty building in DC and the nattily-dressed executives prattling about planning the next underwear fashion show. Show me some results. To date, HRC doesn’t have a lot to show for their work other than a hate crimes law.

No thanks.

By: Mike in Houston

Mike in Houston — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 22:32:47 +0000

Who invites someone to an event to speak and doesn’t offer to pay their way?

It’s one thing if Choi was already going to be in Lubbock during a certain period — for whatever reason — and he took time out of that trip to visit & speak… it’s entirely unreasonable to expect him to carve out time, pay for his own travel and show up just because you wanted him to.

Student organizations have budgets for precisely this reason.

By: John in the Bay Area

John in the Bay Area — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 22:28:14 +0000

When are we going to hold Solomonese up to this ongoing level of criticism? I don’t see Dan Choi at the White House providing cover to the President while his Justice department works hard to defend the Defense of Marriage Act and Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.

By: Burr

Burr — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 22:08:12 +0000

It does come off a little bad, but what is he supposed to do? Accept every offer? He only has so much time, is that best put to use preaching to the choir so to speak? Sure it’s in Texas, but it’s a university and for a GSA.

Still, I think there should be room for criticism and wariness.

By: james

james — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 21:56:10 +0000

once again knocking a guy down thats out on the front lines… paid or not he is doing more than most of us… so lets tear him down with rumors and innuendo. thats the way we gays like to do it anyways!

By: Wayn Besen

Wayn Besen — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 21:54:09 +0000

As I’ve said before, if an activist is compensated based on success, Dan Choi deserves a major raise.

How many millions worth of free media did he get for the movement? So, why are we quibbling about him paying his bills?

By: Matt Algren

Matt Algren — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 21:19:03 +0000

I’m trying to figure out your fixation on trying to tear Choi down, Timothy. This article in particular reminds me of Glenn Beck’s standard “I’m not saying X, but X. But I’m not saying X! I’m just asking questions!!! Also, X!”

It’s transparently manipulative, and more than a little beneath this blog’s reputation.